STONER MOUNTAIN BLOG

31 October, 2016

There's one magical, haunted evening each year when all the scary creatures come out to prowl through every neighborhood.

Trick or treat? Nah, just kidding. No tricks! Here' s a fine little treat from Possessor, a two track Single recorded specially for Halloween. Of course it's free to download from their Bandcamp.

Revenge, the first track is a total metal assault with razor-sharp riffs, a couple of tempo shifts and a nice guitar solo. It's really thrashy. I'm listening to this song and banging my head! Possibly my favorite Possessor song ever.
The second song - The Foreboding is a slow, atmospheric instrumental song, with some cool tribal-like drumming. Good enough to put anyone in a hypnotic trance.

All in all, an excellent Halloween gift. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and download it!

29 October, 2016

The Brooklyn based vintage psychedelic doom rockers from Heavy Traffic just signed with Twin Earth Records (BTW check out the band Haunted from this label) and here's a preview of their next album. Is it a Single or EP? I don't know, call it whatever you like.

Heavy Traffic is a good combination of loud psychedelic rock and doomy rhythms, following in the footsteps of bands like Witch, Winters and Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats. I can also hear small traces of the group’s influence on early ’90s British shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine (or it could be just my imagination). The guitar is overdriven and fuzzed-out, the bass and drums pound frantically and it's all captured in great lo-fi production. The singer has a fairly androgynous high-pitched voice, something eerie, yet very enjoyable. They definitely got my attention with this two song Single, now I really want to hear the whole thing.

Basically, some kick-ass psychedelic grooves on here, definitely worth checking out! If you have not been exposed to Heavy Traffic's earlier work, then this is the place to start. If you like those songs a lot then delve a little further back and get the rest of their records!

28 October, 2016

Brazilian football might be lately not as good as it was years ago, but the music is still world class. Here's a new awesome band from São Paulo and their self-titled debut album, that I discovered just two days ago. Since then I listen to this album at the higher volume and I'm fully anticipating the neighbours knocking on the door wondering what the hell is going on.

I can't even begin to describe how great this record is. This album is short, but gives you enough fun to where it doesn't matter on the length. Not one song on this album is below exceptional, there's no filler. Basically, it's energetic and bluesy retro rock. It has a lot of catchy guitar riffs, cool guitar licks, wild solo's, an impassioned singer with a lot of soul and the quality of the sound is great. You get the feeling that you've heard it all before, but soon realise this is brand new hard driving blues rock. In some ways, Blackdust reminds me of Wolfmother. It's not exactly the same sound, but there certainly is a similar vibe.

It's an excellent piece of work. If you like rock, if you like big riffs and pounding drums - Blackdust is for you. Get it, put it on at your next party and Rock and Roll all night long! I'm sure everybody will love it!

Oh, and did mention it's available as a free "name your price" download on their Bandcamp?

23 October, 2016

And now for something completely different. Well, not really, because it's dark jazz time again! And dark jazz is a big part of Stoner Mountain. But I must admit that Nyctophiliac is a bit different. I'm glad to have found it on Bandcamp.

Nyctophiliac is a solo project hailing from Skopje, Macedonia. Dark Side Of The Mental (his full-length debut album) is a musical puzzle consisting of all various types of music (hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz, electronica and of course dark jazz). It's almost entirely instrumental with some sampled vocals in a couple of tracks. The album is full of different sounds, samples, slow vibrating bass lines, laid back jazz sax, hip-hop breakbeats and loops. All fused into one seamless, seductive sound, heavily inspired by Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch and Dale Cooper Quartet & the Dictaphones. My only complaints - there are 16 tracks on the album and not every song here is quite that good, three or four of the numbers probably could have been dispensed with. But the entire album is very good over all, great late night driving music.

A superb start to his career - well thought out, well crafted. A hint of the great things to come. I recommend this album not only for all lovers of dark jazz, but just for anyone who is into music. Dark Side Of The Mental might be the best place to start with the genre, as Nyctophiliac is closer to hip-hop and trip-hop than other dark jazz artists, which make it easier to listen to.

22 October, 2016

The Aussies from Comacozer got together in the summer of 2013 to do some heavy rocking and space jamming. After releasing several EPs, they finally brought out their first studio album Astra Planeta, a name that fits perfectly with its sound.

Their instrumental five track debut album was recorded in January 2016 and released on August 13 through Headspin Records. The record is mostly filled with subtile cosmic melodies, wonderful dreamy guitars and contemplating psychedelics, but they know exactly when to switch over to heavier tones. It starts out as a highly atmospheric and beautiful blend of sounds, with memorable melodies that slowly transforms into something more doom orientated. Especially the last song, Hypnotized by Apophis is an experience you won't soon forget. I surely won’t, it stuck in my head for good. Every note is considered and played with care and a sense of craft. The more you listen to it, the more it falls into place and traps you under its spell.

From beginning to end, it truly is a fantastic work and leaves the listener satisfied. Get this album. Stare at the mythic cover, then insert the disc into the player of your choice and enjoy the astral trip.

Thanks to Andrew & the rest of the band for this wonderful contribution!

19 October, 2016

Checking out some requests that flew under my radar last month, this one instantly amazed me. Witch's Oath, Mindkult's debut EP is the solo effort of a talented musician known as Fowst. Which makes it even more amazing. This is some heavy psyched out vintage doom, made somewhere in Virginia, USA. Where exactly? I don't know, there is some mystery behind Fowst.

Mindkult's debut is a seamless combination of the old and new. It combines heavy doom riffs with the mellower, atmospheric soundscapes of shoegaze; and surprisingly clean vocals. Melancholic yet energetic and melodic. Still, Fowst managed to create a different sound on every song. As I mentioned, the whole album is performed by one person: guitars, bass, drums, and vocals - all Fowst. The heavy guitars produce a thick wall of sound and the background music is also very good. The sound quality on the album is not particularly amazing for what it could have been. But I really like the raw, lo-fi sound. I think it gives some character to all of it. Its like it was recorded in a garage type atmosphere.

This is another great doom project from the underground that cannot be missed. As far as debuts go, this one is a good starting point. I'm curious what Fowst has in store for us in the future. Now let the music do the talking, just check this album out. You should not be disappointed.

16 October, 2016

Speaking of killer albums, here is another great hidden gem fronted by a woman with a fascinating and beautiful voice! Grajo is a Space/Stoner/Doom band from Córdoba, Spain. Their debut album came out in May, but I discovered it just two weeks ago. If you guys already knew it... Why didn't you tell me before!?

These guys have a really groovy Saint Vitus-esque vibe around their sound. Combine this with mountainous riffs and you're in for a ten-ton trip. Yes, it's heavy, but very melodic at the same time, with mesmerising dreamy vocals. A perfect combination, very refreshing. Trust me, you'll get addicted in no time. My favourite songs on this album are Magic Eye, Feeding Our Demons and I Am The Sea Still, but you can't go wrong with all the mighty jams on here.

Superb album by a great new band. I would highly recommend this album to every doom fan out there. Very easy to listen from start to finish. This is just another 2016 favourite of mine. In constant rotation in my home!

12 October, 2016

WOW! A massive, killer album. Yep, I've said it. This is exactly how I want to start this review and what are you gonna do about it? From a beautiful city called Catania in Italy comes Haunted, a heavy five-piece, doom metal band. Their self-titled debut album was just released at the turn of August/September through Twin Earth Records, so it is still fresh. I've found a new band to obsess over and obsess I shall.

I just started listening to Haunted and I was immediately blown away. Think of it as Electric Wizard teaming up with Pentagram adding female vocals, a dark, doomy sound played in a funky, rockin' psychedelic way. I'm just addicted to their overall sound and the catchiness of each of their songs. From the hauntingly beautiful vocals to the monolithic riffs. This is exactly how we want all of our records to sound like. The buildup on this album is amazing, not just in the songs themselves or the song lengths, but the entire record. Absolutely great tunes.

I think this is currently one of Italy's finest offerings if you're looking for stoner doom jams. Adding this to the 2016 biggest surprises from the underground! An essential newcomer, highly recommended. Don't take my word for it, just get this album and play it loud!

10 October, 2016

A fine request for all you stoner punks out there. The Vibes is a four-piece band from San Salvador, El Salvador. They released their first album, Fuck The Vibes in August. And it's still available as a free Bandcamp download, so get this album and give these guys a listen!

The Vibes are combining crazy garage punk rock with energetic stoner rock and just good fucking rock and roll in general. It's not the most sophisticated sound in the world, but it is raw passion and pure love for music that propels this album to sheer heights. The album will stay in your head for days because it's so catchy. But it is really short. Around twenty-five minutes in total for eleven tracks, with most barely passing the 2-minute mark. The band decided to record almost the entire album in Spanish, that's a nice, little break from all the bands singing in English...Solid, catchy and straightforward.

There's nothing revolutionary about Fuck The Vibes, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. Because I highly enjoyed this album, and would recommend it to anyone that is looking for something loud to crank up while you turn off your brain for a bit, this is a good choice!

04 October, 2016

Ok, we are still in Beijing, China. So now I want to introduce you to the next band from that city. Nevere Before is a stoner/doom metal band and it's also a debut album this time.

King of Worms is a great album on which this band showcases their Down inspired sound in a beautiful way. You can also hear some Corrosion of Comformity and Church of Misery influences. Bluesy sludge riffage and solid grooves. A more uptempo, crossover style of sludge, doom and stoner metal. These guys are really tapped into their collective talent. They sound tight, but still make it come off like a it's a great jam session. I would recommend this album to anyone who is looking for a more versatile and clean sound in the genre. Also if you like your sludge to be more than just riffs being dragged through a swamp.

For Never Before, a rising band in the genre, their debut is one that definitely succeeds. And the more you listen the better it gets. Get this now and play it damn loud!

02 October, 2016

Another month, another review. Let me present you some bands from more exotic places. Of course exotic from my European point of view. So no offense please.

Electric Lady is a retro rock band from Beijing, China...Wait, what? From China? Yeah, from China! Did you think there is no retro rock in China, huh? There is and it's pretty fucking good. Queen Of Electricity And Her Coming Kingdom is their debut album and it was released in January this year.

The band salutes to the early 70's and groups like Sir Lord Baltimore (there is a nice SLB cover on the album), Blue Cheer, Cream, Atomic Rooster, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Black Sabbath etc. This is female-fronted retro at it's most vintage. Already the first song grabs you immediately and takes the listener on a colourful trip of fuzz, psychedelic and hard rock. Great vocal stylings that recall the era too. Overall, the album has a classic rock feel that can't be faulted. From the sound to the atmosphere and production; everything just fits.

Another hidden gem in the world of retro rock. It may not be anything life-altering, mind-blowing, or Earth-shattering, but regardless, it is a very, thoroughly solid and enjoyable record from a promising young group. But if you've got an appreciation for old school heaviness or just dig good, solid heavy rock n' roll, Electric Lady is a must-have. I look forward to future release from this band.

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